rhetorical thesis outline

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Crafting an Effective Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline - Free Samples!

10 min read

What Is Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of analytical essay that examines how an author uses language and persuasion to get their message across.

It involves analyzing speeches or essays to understand how authors use strategies within the rhetorical triangle to influence their intended audience. These techniques usually involve logical appeal, moral argument, and vivid imagery that appeals to the listener.

Key Elements to Analyze

In a rhetorical analysis essay, you would be analyzing the text keeping these key rhetorical concepts in mind:

Ethos: This concerns the credibility of the author or speaker.
Logos: This focuses on the logical aspects of the argument.
Pathos: Pathos explores the emotional appeal of the discourse.
Style and Tone: This involves analyzing the author's writing style and the overall tone of the text.

These elements provide a structured approach to rhetorical analysis, revealing how effective communication is achieved.

Why Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline?

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay requires a writer to draft a structured piece of writing. This essay type is one of the most challenging tasks students are assigned to do for their academics.

Apart from conducting a strong analysis, a rhetorical analysis essay depends on how perfectly the essay outline is drafted.

An outline organizes the raw information and makes it understandable for the readers. It serves as your compass, ensuring you stay on course throughout the rhetoric essay. It helps you structure your ideas and arguments, adding clarity to your essay writing process.

Moreover, an outline works as a checklist for your essay. It assures you that nothing important is missed in the content.

Components of a Rhetorical Analysis Outline

Now that we've explored why creating an essay outline is essential, it's important to explore the different components of a rhetorical analysis outline.

Here’s a detailed rhetorical analysis essay outline:

Each element plays a crucial role in crafting a well-structured and persuasive analysis, so let's explore them in detail:

Introduction

The introduction of your rhetorical analysis essay serves as the gateway to your analysis. It's where you captivate your reader's interest, provide essential background information, and present your thesis statement.

Here are the elements typically included in an introduction paragraph:

Hook The " hook " is a sentence or two designed to grab the reader's attention. It could be a thought-provoking quote, a surprising fact, or a compelling question. The purpose is to make your reader interested in what you're about to discuss—how an author uses rhetorical devices.
Background Information After the hook, provide some context. Here, you briefly introduce the text you're analyzing, the author or speaker, and the overall topic. It's like giving your reader a map to navigate through your analysis.
Thesis Statement The thesis statement is the main argument, your "claim." This concise sentence outlines what you'll be analyzing and what your main points will be. Your thesis should tell the reader what to expect in your analysis.

The body of your essay is where you dissect the author's persuasive techniques and reveal their impact on the audience. It contains sections dedicated to each rhetorical strategy you're examining.

In these sections, you'll explain the strategies, provide evidence from the text, and offer your insightful analysis of their effectiveness.

Section for Each Rhetorical Strategy

In the body paragraphs, you'll have sections dedicated to each rhetorical strategy you're analyzing. These sections each will focus on a different aspect of the text. For each strategy, you'll do three things:

Explanation of the Strategy Start by explaining what the rhetorical technique is. Define it clearly for your reader. This is like providing a dictionary definition.
Examples from the Text Next, provide examples from the text you're analyzing. These are specific quotes or passages where the author or speaker uses the strategy you're discussing. It's like showing your reader the evidence.
Analysis of the Effectiveness Finally, analyze how effective the strategy is. This is where you dive deep into the text and explain how and why the strategy persuades the audience.

The conclusion should leave your readers with a sense of closure and a clear understanding of your analysis.

You don't introduce new information or arguments in this section; instead, you tie everything together. Here are the three essential elements of an impactful essay conclusion:

Restate Thesis Start by restating your thesis to remind readers of your main argument. Repeating your main argument clearly helps the reader tie in all they have read in your essay.
Summarize Main Points Summarize the main points from each section of your analysis. This serves as a reminder of the highlights of your arguments made throughout the essay.
Final Thoughts Conclude by sharing your thoughts on how the author's strategies affect the audience and the text's broader importance. Encourage readers to consider these strategies' impact and the text's relevance.

This structure in your rhetorical analysis outline ensures that your analysis is clear, well-organized, and persuasive. Each component plays a crucial role in guiding your reader through your analysis.

Steps to Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in organizing your thoughts and effectively analyzing a piece of rhetoric. Here are the steps to craft an outline for a rhetorical analysis essay:

Step 1 - Choose the Text

Select the piece of rhetoric that you will be analyzing. It could be a speech, a written essay, an advertisement, a political campaign, or any other form of communication.

Step 2 - Identify Rhetorical Devices and Rhetorical Appeals

Look for rhetorical devices such as metaphor, simile, analogy, hyperbole, and alliteration. Analyze how these devices contribute to the message. Identify any repetition, parallelism, or rhetorical questions used in the text.

Moreover, look for common rhetorical appeals i,e., ethos, pathos, and logos.

Step 3 - Analyze Appeals and Strategies in Each Section

For each argument, dedicate a body paragraph that will analyze how the author/speaker uses ethos, pathos, and logos.

Note the specific rhetorical devices used in each section and their impact.

Step 4 - Consider the Effect on the Audience

While outlining the last body paragraph, add points that analyze how the appeals are intended to affect the audience.

Consider whether the author/speaker is trying to persuade, inform, entertain, or provoke a specific emotional response. Include specific examples and quotations from the text to support your analysis.

Step 5 - Filter Out Extra Information

It's important to know what parts of the arguments should be included and which should be filtered out.

After having a sketch of the introduction and body paragraphs, remove any information that might feel irrelevant.

Step 6 - Conclude and Summarize

For the ending, make sure to restate your thesis statement. Include points that directly support your arguments and sum up your analysis.

These steps help you plan your essay for a well-structured, clear, and cohesive essay.

Here's a sample rhetorical analysis essay outline template that analyzes ethos, pathos and logos :

Here’s a practice outline:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Fill In The Blanks

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

Here are some rhetorical analysis essay outline pdf that you can use as reference outlines:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Ethos Pathos Logos

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Ap Lang

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Introduction Outline

Need more help getting started? Check out these expert rhetorical analysis essay examples to get inspired!

In conclusion, you've got the tools and examples you need to ace your rhetorical analysis essay. The steps we've gone through provide a strong starting point for your academic journey into analyzing persuasive writing.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis: 6 Steps and an Outline for Your Next Essay

by Kaelyn Barron | 6 comments

how to write a rhetorical analysis blog post image

Students are often given the assignment of writing a rhetorical analysis, in which they must analyze how a speaker makes an argument, and evaluate whether or not they do so effectively.

However, this practice is useful not only for students, but for all of us who want to evaluate everyday arguments—whether they’re made by advertisers, politicians, or our friends—and learn to think more critically on our own.

What Is a Rhetorical Analysis?

A rhetorical analysis is an essay that examines and evaluates a text (or sometimes other types of media, such as video) based on its rhetoric . Rather than focusing on what the actual message is, a rhetorical analysis looks at how that message is created and delivered.

In writing your rhetorical analysis, you’ll examine the author or creator’s goals, techniques, and appeals to their audience (which you’ll summarize in your essay’s thesis).

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Follow these 6 steps to write a rhetorical analysis that’s clear and insightful.

1. Identify the 4 elements of rhetoric.

Start your analysis by taking note of the following rhetorical elements:

Audience : Who is the piece intended for? Depending on the medium being used, the audience might consist of readers, spectators, listeners, or viewers. What might you infer about this audience and their backgrounds (age group, political preferences, etc.)?

Purpose : What is the speaker’s purpose? What is the outcome that they wish or intend to incite? What are they trying to convince their audience of?

Medium : How is the message being delivered? Through writing, video, images, audio, or some other medium?

Context : Consider the time, place, and social climate of when the material was originally produced. What else was going on during that time?

2. Describe the rhetorical appeals.

Identify and describe the rhetorical appeals used by the speaker, as well as other devices, such as tone , syntax , imagery , etc.

The 3 main rhetorical appeals, established by Aristotle, are ethos , pathos , and logos . They describe how the speaker appeals to an audience’s ethics, emotions, and logic, respectively. This can be done in a number of ways, including imagery, anecdotes, examples, or specific data.

3. Analyze.

Next, it’s time to analyze how and why the speaker uses those devices to appeal to their audience.

As noted above, there are many ways for a speaker to use these devices and appeals. Analyze which methods they chose, how they applied them, and why you think they chose them.

4. Evaluate.

Finally, evaluate the author’s success in using these techniques to reach their goals. Do you think they were effective? Why or why not?

If you don’t think they were effective, what effect do you think they will have instead on the audience? Your evaluation is important because it will become your main argument, or thesis.

5. State your thesis.

Now that you’ve completed your analysis of the material, try to summarize it into one clear, concise thesis statement that will form the foundation of your essay.

Your thesis statement should summarize: 1) the argument or purpose of the speaker; 2) the methods the speaker uses; and 3) the effectiveness of those methods.

For example: In [Title of the Work], the author convincingly argues in favor of education reform by using specific data, compelling anecdotes, and her experience as a teacher.

6. Organize your ideas and evidence.

Next, using your thesis statement as a foundation, organize your ideas and evidence into a coherent outline.

For example, you might organize your body paragraphs into 3 categories: one paragraph for each of the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos), with specific examples of how the speaker makes those appeals.

How Do You Write a Rhetorical Analysis Introduction?

The introduction to your rhetorical analysis essay doesn’t need to be too lengthy or detailed. However, there are a few things you should introduce before jumping into your analysis.

You should start with some contextual information, so your reader can understand what kind of material you’ll be analyzing. Be sure to reference the title, the writer/speaker, and any other relevant details about the work (this can include the year it was published, or background information about what was going on at that time).

Then, you should state your thesis, which will explain what you’ll be arguing in your essay. From there, you can transition into the main body of your analysis.

Rhetorical Analysis Outline

The following outline is an example of how you could structure your rhetorical analysis. To make planning your essay easier, you can simply copy and paste this outline and fill it in with your thesis and supporting examples.

Describe the 4 elements of rhetoric (audience, purpose, medium, and context), and identify the speaker
State your thesis
Describe how the speaker makes an appeal to ethos (the audience’s sense of ethical responsibility)
Use specific examples, referring to word choice, tone, anecdotes, and other devices
Describe how the speaker makes an appeal to pathos (the audience’s emotions)
Describe how the speaker makes an appeal to logos (logic)
Rephrase your thesis
Leave your audience with a call to action, or something to think about (this could be a question, or a parting thought

How Many Words Should a Rhetorical Analysis Be?

There’s no strict rule for how many words your rhetorical analysis should be, although you might be given specific guidelines by your instructor.

In general, however, these essays aren’t very long, ranging anywhere from 500–1,000 words. The important thing is that your analysis is complete and you adequately support your thesis.

Analyzing Rhetoric

Analyzing rhetoric is one way to evaluate the work of other writers and creators, and it can also show you new strategies for making your own arguments more effectively.

Next time you read an article or listen to a speech, don’t just pay attention to what the author or speaker says, but how they say it. This is an important step in critical thinking that will help you to draw your own conclusions and evaluate different forms of media more critically.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

How to Write a Literary Analysis: 6 Tips for the Perfect Essay
How to Write a Reflection Paper in 5 Steps (plus Template and Sample Essay)
What Is Rhetoric? Definitions and Examples to Make Your Writing More Effective
17 of the Most Common Literary Devices Every Reader and Writer Should Know

As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This was so helpful, and I have been anxious about this paper I must write. I just could not figure out how to get started or which way I should put it in order. Your guidelines and suggestions have really eased my mind. If I did not say it before, THANK YOU!

I have taken a few years of English and comp classes, but this article helped me more than any of those! Breaking it down helped me immensely. Thank you!!

Ms. Barron, thank you so much for your post, which is clearly written, comprehensive, and succinct. I am a teacher, and I thought that I would introduce students to rhetorical analysis by asking them (actually we will write together) to write a rhetorical analysis of the Pledge of Allegiance. Your post provides an EXCELLENT overview of the process and (different) parts. We will just write a one-page-paragraph, to begin. Thank you, again.

Thank you Ronald, I am so happy to hear that you found the post helpful for your class! :)

Kaelyn, thank you for your post. I am given a book to write the Rhetorical analysis. I hope your guidelines will serve the purpose. God bless you. Prayers.

I hope you found the post helpful for writing your rhetorical analysis! :)

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay–Examples & Template

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is, as the name suggests, an analysis of someone else’s writing (or speech, or advert, or even cartoon) and how they use not only words but also rhetorical techniques to influence their audience in a certain way. A rhetorical analysis is less interested in what the author is saying and more in how they present it, what effect this has on their readers, whether they achieve their goals, and what approach they use to get there.

Its structure is similar to that of most essays: An Introduction presents your thesis, a Body analyzes the text you have chosen, breaks it down into sections and explains how arguments have been constructed and how each part persuades, informs, or entertains the reader, and a Conclusion section sums up your evaluation.

Note that your personal opinion on the matter is not relevant for your analysis and that you don’t state anywhere in your essay whether you agree or disagree with the stance the author takes.

In the following, we will define the key rhetorical concepts you need to write a good rhetorical analysis and give you some practical tips on where to start.

Key Rhetorical Concepts

Your goal when writing a rhetorical analysis is to think about and then carefully describe how the author has designed their text so that it has the intended effect on their audience. To do that, you need to consider a number of key rhetorical strategies: Rhetorical appeals (“Ethos”, “Logos”, and “Pathos”), context, as well as claims, supports, and warrants.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos were introduced by Aristotle, way back in the 4th century BC, as the main ways in which language can be used to persuade an audience. They still represent the basis of any rhetorical analysis and are often referred to as the “rhetorical triangle”.

These and other rhetorical techniques can all be combined to create the intended effect, and your job as the one analyzing a text is to break the writer’s arguments down and identify the concepts they are based on.

Rhetorical Appeals

Rhetorical appeal #1: ethos.

Ethos refers to the reputation or authority of the writer regarding the topic of their essay or speech and to how they use this to appeal to their audience. Just like we are more likely to buy a product from a brand or vendor we have confidence in than one we don’t know or have reason to distrust, Ethos-driven texts or speeches rely on the reputation of the author to persuade the reader or listener. When you analyze an essay, you should therefore look at how the writer establishes Ethos through rhetorical devices.

Does the author present themselves as an authority on their subject? If so, how?

Do they highlight how impeccable their own behavior is to make a moral argument?

Do they present themselves as an expert by listing their qualifications or experience to convince the reader of their opinion on something?

Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos

The purpose of Pathos-driven rhetoric is to appeal to the reader’s emotions. A common example of pathos as a rhetorical means is adverts by charities that try to make you donate money to a “good cause”. To evoke the intended emotions in the reader, an author may use passionate language, tell personal stories, and employ vivid imagery so that the reader can imagine themselves in a certain situation and feel empathy with or anger towards others.

Rhetorical appeal #3: Logos

Logos, the “logical” appeal, uses reason to persuade. Reason and logic, supported by data, evidence, clearly defined methodology, and well-constructed arguments, are what most academic writing is based on. Emotions, those of the researcher/writer as well as those of the reader, should stay out of such academic texts, as should anyone’s reputation, beliefs, or personal opinions.

Text and Context

To analyze a piece of writing, a speech, an advertisement, or even a satirical drawing, you need to look beyond the piece of communication and take the context in which it was created and/or published into account.

Who is the person who wrote the text/drew the cartoon/designed the ad..? What audience are they trying to reach? Where was the piece published and what was happening there around that time?

A political speech, for example, can be powerful even when read decades later, but the historical context surrounding it is an important aspect of the effect it was intended to have.

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

To make any kind of argument, a writer needs to put forward specific claims, support them with data or evidence or even a moral or emotional appeal, and connect the dots logically so that the reader can follow along and agree with the points made.

The connections between statements, so-called “warrants”, follow logical reasoning but are not always clearly stated—the author simply assumes the reader understands the underlying logic, whether they present it “explicitly” or “implicitly”. Implicit warrants are commonly used in advertisements where seemingly happy people use certain products, wear certain clothes, accessories, or perfumes, or live certain lifestyles – with the connotation that, first, the product/perfume/lifestyle is what makes that person happy and, second, the reader wants to be as happy as the person in the ad. Some warrants are never clearly stated, and your job when writing a rhetorical analysis essay is therefore to identify them and bring them to light, to evaluate their validity, their effect on the reader, and the use of such means by the writer/creator.

bust of plato the philosopher, rhetorical analysis essay

What are the Five Rhetorical Situations?

A “rhetorical situation” refers to the circumstance behind a text or other piece of communication that arises from a given context. It explains why a rhetorical piece was created, what its purpose is, and how it was constructed to achieve its aims.

Rhetorical situations can be classified into the following five categories:

Asking such questions when you analyze a text will help you identify all the aspects that play a role in the effect it has on its audience, and will allow you to evaluate whether it achieved its aims or where it may have failed to do so.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Analyzing someone else’s work can seem like a big task, but as with every assignment or writing endeavor, you can break it down into smaller, well-defined steps that give you a practical structure to follow.

To give you an example of how the different parts of your text may look when it’s finished, we will provide you with some excerpts from this rhetorical analysis essay example (which even includes helpful comments) published on the Online Writing Lab website of Excelsior University in Albany, NY. The text that this essay analyzes is this article on why one should or shouldn’t buy an Ipad. If you want more examples so that you can build your own rhetorical analysis template, have a look at this essay on Nabokov’s Lolita and the one provided here about the “Shitty First Drafts” chapter of Anne Lamott’s writing instruction book “Bird by Bird”.

Analyzing the Text

When writing a rhetorical analysis, you don’t choose the concepts or key points you think are relevant or want to address. Rather, you carefully read the text several times asking yourself questions like those listed in the last section on rhetorical situations to identify how the text “works” and how it was written to achieve that effect.

Start with focusing on the author : What do you think was their purpose for writing the text? Do they make one principal claim and then elaborate on that? Or do they discuss different topics?

Then look at what audience they are talking to: Do they want to make a group of people take some action? Vote for someone? Donate money to a good cause? Who are these people? Is the text reaching this specific audience? Why or why not?

What tone is the author using to address their audience? Are they trying to evoke sympathy? Stir up anger? Are they writing from a personal perspective? Are they painting themselves as an authority on the topic? Are they using academic or informal language?

How does the author support their claims ? What kind of evidence are they presenting? Are they providing explicit or implicit warrants? Are these warrants valid or problematic? Is the provided evidence convincing?

Asking yourself such questions will help you identify what rhetorical devices a text uses and how well they are put together to achieve a certain aim. Remember, your own opinion and whether you agree with the author are not the point of a rhetorical analysis essay – your task is simply to take the text apart and evaluate it.

If you are still confused about how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, just follow the steps outlined below to write the different parts of your rhetorical analysis: As every other essay, it consists of an Introduction , a Body (the actual analysis), and a Conclusion .

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction

The Introduction section briefly presents the topic of the essay you are analyzing, the author, their main claims, a short summary of the work by you, and your thesis statement .

Tell the reader what the text you are going to analyze represents (e.g., historically) or why it is relevant (e.g., because it has become some kind of reference for how something is done). Describe what the author claims, asserts, or implies and what techniques they use to make their argument and persuade their audience. Finish off with your thesis statement that prepares the reader for what you are going to present in the next section – do you think that the author’s assumptions/claims/arguments were presented in a logical/appealing/powerful way and reached their audience as intended?

Have a look at an excerpt from the sample essay linked above to see what a rhetorical analysis introduction can look like. See how it introduces the author and article , the context in which it originally appeared , the main claims the author makes , and how this first paragraph ends in a clear thesis statement that the essay will then elaborate on in the following Body section:

Cory Doctorow ’s article on BoingBoing is an older review of the iPad , one of Apple’s most famous products. At the time of this article, however, the iPad was simply the latest Apple product to hit the market and was not yet so popular. Doctorow’s entire career has been entrenched in and around technology. He got his start as a CD-ROM programmer and is now a successful blogger and author. He is currently the co-editor of the BoingBoing blog on which this article was posted. One of his main points in this article comes from Doctorow’s passionate advocacy of free digital media sharing. He argues that the iPad is just another way for established technology companies to control our technological freedom and creativity . In “ Why I Won’t Buy an iPad (and Think You Shouldn’t, Either) ” published on Boing Boing in April of 2010, Cory Doctorow successfully uses his experience with technology, facts about the company Apple, and appeals to consumer needs to convince potential iPad buyers that Apple and its products, specifically the iPad, limit the digital rights of those who use them by controlling and mainstreaming the content that can be used and created on the device .

Doing the Rhetorical Analysis

The main part of your analysis is the Body , where you dissect the text in detail. Explain what methods the author uses to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience. Use Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle and the other key concepts we introduced above. Use quotations from the essay to demonstrate what you mean. Work out why the writer used a certain approach and evaluate (and again, demonstrate using the text itself) how successful they were. Evaluate the effect of each rhetorical technique you identify on the audience and judge whether the effect is in line with the author’s intentions.

To make it easy for the reader to follow your thought process, divide this part of your essay into paragraphs that each focus on one strategy or one concept , and make sure they are all necessary and contribute to the development of your argument(s).

One paragraph of this section of your essay could, for example, look like this:

One example of Doctorow’s position is his comparison of Apple’s iStore to Wal-Mart. This is an appeal to the consumer’s logic—or an appeal to logos. Doctorow wants the reader to take his comparison and consider how an all-powerful corporation like the iStore will affect them. An iPad will only allow for apps and programs purchased through the iStore to be run on it; therefore, a customer must not only purchase an iPad but also any programs he or she wishes to use. Customers cannot create their own programs or modify the hardware in any way.

As you can see, the author of this sample essay identifies and then explains to the reader how Doctorow uses the concept of Logos to appeal to his readers – not just by pointing out that he does it but by dissecting how it is done.

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

The conclusion section of your analysis should restate your main arguments and emphasize once more whether you think the author achieved their goal. Note that this is not the place to introduce new information—only rely on the points you have discussed in the body of your essay. End with a statement that sums up the impact the text has on its audience and maybe society as a whole:

Overall, Doctorow makes a good argument about why there are potentially many better things to drop a great deal of money on instead of the iPad. He gives some valuable information and facts that consumers should take into consideration before going out to purchase the new device. He clearly uses rhetorical tools to help make his case, and, overall, he is effective as a writer, even if, ultimately, he was ineffective in convincing the world not to buy an iPad .

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhetorical Analysis Essays

What is a rhetorical analysis essay.

A rhetorical analysis dissects a text or another piece of communication to work out and explain how it impacts its audience, how successfully it achieves its aims, and what rhetorical devices it uses to do that.

While argumentative essays usually take a stance on a certain topic and argue for it, a rhetorical analysis identifies how someone else constructs their arguments and supports their claims.

What is the correct rhetorical analysis essay format?

Like most other essays, a rhetorical analysis contains an Introduction that presents the thesis statement, a Body that analyzes the piece of communication, explains how arguments have been constructed, and illustrates how each part persuades, informs, or entertains the reader, and a Conclusion section that summarizes the results of the analysis.

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

The rhetorical triangle was introduced by Aristotle as the main ways in which language can be used to persuade an audience: Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, Ethos to the writer’s status or authority, and Pathos to the reader’s emotions. Logos, Ethos, and Pathos can all be combined to create the intended effect, and your job as the one analyzing a text is to break the writer’s arguments down and identify what specific concepts each is based on.

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How to write a rhetorical analysis

What is a rhetorical analysis?

What are the key concepts of a rhetorical analysis, rhetorical situation, claims, supports, and warrants.

Step 1: Plan and prepare
Step 2: Write your introduction
Step 3: Write the body
Step 4: Write your conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions about rhetorical analysis

How to Create a Compelling Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

How to Create a Compelling Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline intro image

Do you need to write a rhetorical analysis essay outline? Even the word is quite a mouthful, and it can seem far more intimidating than it really is, especially if you’re new to the style. That’s why we’ve put together this super helpful guide to the rhetorical essay format and everything you need to know to get the job done.

In this article:

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

How long should my rhetorical analysis essay be, rhetorical appeals, analysis and evaluation, thesis statement, prepare to write:, rhetorical analysis introduction, ethos, pathos, logos, rhetorical analysis essay strategies.

Before we look at the rhetorical analysis format, let’s answer a fundamental question – what is a rhetorical analysis essay, anyway? Rhetorical analysis essays take another person’s work of nonfiction (usually, sometimes fiction is allowed) and dig deep into how the message was presented and why. They can be about anything – from books to magazine articles, famous speeches, and even TV commercials and videos. It’s all about looking deeply into how the media created its message and whether it’s effective at delivering it.

Why learn how to write a rhetorical analysis essay? It’s essential to know how people deliver a message. Think of marketing. Successful marketers don’t just make things up and hope for the best! They review what their successful competition is doing and figure out how to leverage it for their brand. This includes creating the right effect with the message, using power words that will drive their campaign, and so on – all skills you will learn while creating the outline for your rhetorical analysis essay.

As you can see, it’s an important critical skill to develop, and your rhetorical analysis essay will help you learn a lot about how humans respond to what we consume as well.

There is no strict rule about how long a rhetorical analysis essay should be, unless you have been given a target word length by your school or professor. You will, however, need to include key parts in your rhetorical analysis-conclusion, opening paragraph, thesis statement, and enough body sections to adequately make your analysis and argument. Our rhetorical analysis thesis outline will assist with this.

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

We will look at the rhetorical analysis essay outline in more detail below. First, however, it’s important to identify the steps you will take in writing your essay, to make sure it is insightful and clear to the reader. How do you analyze your source material?

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You will start by noting the overall rhetorical elements used. Here are four key elements:

Purpose : Why did the speaker or author create this piece? What were they hoping to achieve or convince people of?
Audience : Who was the piece directed at? What are their backgrounds and demographics? What unites them as an audience?
Context : No piece is an island. What was/is happening around the work you are analyzing? What was the social climate, place, and time when it was written? What was happening around it?
Medium : How is the message being delivered to us? Why would this be the best way to express the thought?

With that framework in mind, now move on to the rhetorical appeals and devices the author uses. This includes ethos, pathos, and logos, which we’ve looked at in detail in the next section. Also, consider how they are evoked – the imagery used, the tone taken, the syntax offered, and so on.

Of course, the point here is an analysis of the content you’ve chosen. So now it’s time to dig deep into how they used these methods and why they selected them. Were they successful or not? Why? Why not? If it wasn’t a successful attempt, what do you think the audience actually felt? At this point, you are building the ‘meat’ of your actual rhetorical analysis essay, so spend a lot of time with this. Remember, your evaluation is your main argument!

We revisit this a little later, but it’s worth adding here, too. Try to take these overall ideas and refine them into a straightforward thesis statement. This will help you build a strong foundation for your essay. This statement must demonstrate:

The purpose the content creator had for the content
The methods they used
How effective they were

And contain the very core of your argument, which the rest of the essay develops further. It could look something like this:

In (content piece), the author compellingly demonstrates how removing access to some forms of public transport adversely affected vulnerable community members. They presented factual data, alongside personal experience and anecdotes that spoke to the problem’s root.

With that core element of your essay nailed down, you can begin to organize the thoughts, ideas, and evidence you’ve unearthed so far into your outline. Let’s take a closer look at it.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

So, what goes into the outline of a rhetorical analysis essay? It’s worth spending some time creating a rhetorical analysis essay/thesis outline for your work, even if it seems like wasted time. With a streamlined, sensible process in place, and a solid framework to work within, it will be much easier to organize the flow of your thoughts. So it’s time to create your rhetorical analysis outline.

As you go, think about the work you’re analyzing. Focus on aspects like the creator, their intention and message, the setting, and other vital details. Not only will this help you easily create the rhetorical analysis outline, but it will also do a lot of the work.

How to start a rhetorical analysis is one of the most asked questions by students – and with good reason. The introduction needs to achieve many things. You will be telling the reader about what you’re analyzing, whether it achieved its goals, and hooking the reader to keep reading along with you. This means it has to be one of the strongest parts of your essay.

Open on something interesting to pull people into your writing, known as a hook . Then introduce the author and work you are examining. There is no need for deep detail as that’s for the body but enough to grasp the subject. Explain whether or not you think they were successful with their message and why you decided on that judgment.

Here at the end of the introduction is also where your thesis statement will reside. A strong thesis statement is critical to a rhetorical analysis essay. In many ways, it is the lynchpin of the whole essay. Think of it as a quick guide to the entire argument you will be making.

It should be one or two sentences long, very clear and concise, and carry the intent of informing what the reader will get from your paper. You will outline the tools you are using to analyze the source material. Three of these are most typical for rhetorical analysis essays:

Diction : How the author uses words and styles
Imagery : The visually descriptive language they use
Simile : Direct ‘like’ and ‘as’ comparisons between items.

The Body of your rhetorical outline is the most changeable part of the rhetorical analysis essay template. You can make a convincing argument in as little as 500 words . Or you may need more space. Don’t confuse being wordy with being ‘smart’ or ‘effective’- try to use as few words as you need to be concise and clear.

Here is where you will do the bulk of your analysis. Look at how the author used their tools to drive the purpose of the text.

While you can use any number of paragraphs, we suggest at least 3. Each should open with a topic sentence that links it to your thesis statement, proving and fortifying it. Add a relevant quote from the original text that helps demonstrate your point. Then use the rest of the text for your analysis. This should be at least three times longer than the quoted text. Quotes and findings that support your point will be used throughout.

These are the three classic rhetorical appeals that you should use to help you analyze the text. Use them throughout the body.

Ethos : How the author establishes themselves as reliable and trustworthy with their tone or credentials.
Pathos : ‘Tugging on your feelings.’ This is how an appeal to the reader’s emotions is made through emotive language or touching stories.
Logos : This is the root word for Logic, which should give you a hint. How does the author develop their ideas logically? Do they reach sensible conclusions?

Once you’ve established your argument and developed it through the body, you will round off with a paragraph as a conclusion. It’s the most forgotten part of the rhetorical analysis essay format, so keep it in mind! You need to reiterate your main argument to emphasize your point concisely. Give a quick overview of the pros and cons in the text, and restate whether you feel they were effective.

And there you have it! This is the basic rhetorical analysis template that can be adapted to a wide range of essays.

Now you have a rhetorical analysis essay outline/template to follow, but the hard work doesn’t stop there. Throughout your essay, you need to demonstrate strong use of rhetorical analysis strategies to examine the essay contents. This helps you persuade your audience and develop your argument. There are many different strategies, but these are the most commonly used:

Description : This is the most straightforward strategy, merely telling your reader something through the direct description. What is it? What is it not? This helps them understand what a specific term means as you use it.
Cause and effect : The key part of this strategy is the cause. The effect is what happened because of that cause. In this way, you join the present (effect) to the past (cause), or the present (cause) to future action (effect).
Process Analysis : How was something achieved? This is a strategy that’s good for history-focused essays, as it shows how something was achieved in the past but can be used for any topic. For example, this article is a process analysis! You also find process analysis used to explore topics from simple descriptions of how to do tasks, to complex advice like processing grief.
Exemplification : This is another commonly used strategy. You give examples to illustrate your overall point. Every time you analyze a quote, you’re using this. However, make sure that there is a transparent and explainable relationship between your quote and the point you’re making.
Compare and Contrast : What is similar and different? This is a strong strategy used often in arguments, speeches, and reports, which is useful for rhetorical analysis.
Narration : Narration takes the reader on a journey through storytelling, which is why it’s an essential rhetorical strategy. We use life experience and personal stories to make our points.

Analyzing rhetoric is how we evaluate and understand what other creators have made. We also arrive at better ways to make our arguments more efficient through such analysis. That’s why it’s worth exploring all of these rhetorical analysis strategies and how they can be applied to your topic even if you discard some for your practical purposes.

Don’t just mechanically approach your topic. That way, you just hear what they say. Instead, pay attention to how they say it, using these strategies. This will help you develop your critical thinking, one of the most important things you will ever do. This is your toolkit that will help you evaluate media critically, a skill that will help you throughout your life.

And there you have it! You have learned how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, from choosing your topics to developing a coherent argument in a logical outline. We’ve even looked at some key tips and strategies for your rhetorical analysis essay, too. With this outline and these tools in your kit, you will be able to take your conclusions and express them to the reader logically. Now it’s up to you to practice those skills!

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How to Write a Thesis Statement For a Rhetorical Analysis

Table of contents

1 Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement
2.1 Doing Proper Analysis
2.2 Find Concrete Examples
2.3 Determine the Author’s Purpose
2.4 The Effect on the Audience
2.5 Take a Position
3.1 Do’s
3.2 Don’ts
4.1 Elements of a STRONG Thesis
4.2 Elements of a WEAK Thesis
5 Formula for Thesis Statement

Because of its convoluted name, rhetorical analysis thesis statements might sound like a daunting thing to write. However, it is not that difficult to create as long as you can acknowledge all of its different components and form a proper thesis sentence. In this article, we will cover everything you need to construct a compelling rhetorical analysis statement for your essay. So let’s begin!

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Rhetorical analysis thesis statements present a main argument about how a particular text (usually non-fiction) uses rhetorical devices to achieve a desired purpose. They can generally be found in rhetorical analysis essays or academic research papers used in college classes such as English, Political Science, or History. It is best to place it at the end of your introduction paragraph.

A thesis statement for rhetorical analysis has three main objectives:

Give the name of the text being analyzed, as well as the author and genre
Take note of the different rhetoric being used by said author
Determine the overall effect these strategies have on the reader

Rhetorical analysis thesis statements are necessary for keeping you focused while you are writing your essay. It also benefits the reader because they can read it in the introduction and know exactly what the paper will be about.

Now we will cover the best practices for creating a proper argument needed for your thesis.

Tips to Compose a Thesis Statement for Rhetorical Analysis

Doing Proper Analysis

Before you begin writing, it is important to remember that it must be defensible. This means that it must be proven with evidence and you should not simply use your own opinion. It might be a good idea to write a rhetorical analysis essay outline to jot down ideas and sources that you will use in your paper. A thorough analysis should be done for your thesis. While you are reading the passage, take note of the rhetorical devices and strategies that the author uses. What specific choice did the author decide on in terms of rhetoric? You can include the names of the devices such as juxtaposition, alliteration, etc.

Find Concrete Examples

Once you have determined the different techniques utilized by the author, your next step is to find solid cases of those techniques within the text. This will serve as evidence for your thesis. The more evidence you can find to back up your claim, the better. While doing research, take note of how the example illustrates the rhetorical technique you are trying to prove.

Determine the Author’s Purpose

After you have found sufficient evidence, start thinking about WHY the author decided to use them in the first place. Why did the author make these particular choices? What point was she trying to make?

The Effect on the Audience

One of the goals of the rhetorical thesis is to take apart an essay or literary work and break it down into its smaller components. You then determine how the parts come together to create a particular effect for the reader. What is going through your mind? Was the author trying to persuade you of something? Or was the purpose only to entertain?

Take a Position

Before you start a rhetorical analysis essay, you must take a firm position if you want your thesis statement to be effective. Of course, the reason why we even read literary works in the first place is because they can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. There might be several rhetorical methods the author uses in their work, but your job is to focus on ONE of them. You cannot convince the reader of your position if your ideas are all over the place. Choose what you think is the strongest point and stick with it.

Do’s and Don’ts when Writing a Thesis Statement

Use this list as a guide when you begin to write. This way, you can remain on task and create a thesis sentence that is coherent and clear to the reader.

Make it very clear which techniques you will be analyzing and their effectiveness within the text.
Take a firm position on the issue you will be discussing. Resist the urge to bloat your thesis statement with different rhetorical devices. Choosing one will keep you organized while you are presenting your argument.
Keep in mind that this will serve as a guide to the reader on what you will be covering in your essay. Always keep the reader in mind while you are writing so that they do not get lost. This is why having a specific focus is so important.
Try to use your credentials, reputation, or personal stories to establish yourself as an expert on the topic.

Don’ts

This is not an opinion piece. Avoid using phrases like “I believe” or “I think”. How you personally feel about the topic being discussed is irrelevant. By the time you write your thesis statement, you should have ample proof to validate your position.
Do not write a simple, flat statement about the topic. This type of thesis statement has a certain structure that you can find below.
Don’t make your piece either too vague or too convoluted. Keep the reader in mind when you are stating your argument. Your words should be something they can clearly follow and understand.

Examples of Strong and Weak Rhetorical Analysis Thesis

Now that we have determined what goes into creating a thesis statement for a rhetorical essay, we can now discuss what is needed to write the argument itself.

Elements of a STRONG Thesis

A strong rhetorical essay thesis utilizes appeals. Appeals are tools that the author uses to earn the approval of the reader by playing to common experiences that we all have. The three types of appeals are pathos, ethos, and logos.

The pathos appeal uses language to conjure strong emotions in the reader like sympathy, anger, compassion, or sadness.

The ethos appeal uses the writer’s character and credibility to convince the reader that they are an expert on the topic being discussed.

Finally, the logos appeal calls to the reader’s logic and reasoning. You can employ evidence, statistics, and testimonies from other experts in the field to convince the reader of your position.

Utilizing all three types of appeals will guarantee that you create a rock-solid argument for your essay.

Elements of a WEAK Thesis

This should go without saying, but avoid plagiarism when writing a thesis for rhetorical analysis and be sure to properly cite your source.

You should also avoid bias when writing your rhetorical analysis essay thesis. The purpose of this type of essay writing is to be objective and to present evidence to convey the most logical argument possible. Lastly, you should try your best not to merely summarize a thesis for a rhetorical analysis essay . If you want to establish yourself as an expert on the topic, use facts and reasoning to your advantage to arrive at a believable conclusion.

Formula for Thesis Statement

Use the template below to help you get started and to give you ideas on how to proceed. Remember to place it after your introduction.

In his/her (ADJECTIVE) speech/article/letter, (WRITER’S NAME) uses (RHET. TECHNIQUE) and (RHET. TECHNIQUE) to persuade (AUDIENCE or READER) to (DESCRIBE THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE)

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Rhetorical Essay Outline
How to Write an Essay Outline: Full Guide With Examples

Rhetorical essay outline toolkit, how to write an outline for an rhetorical essay, once you are done with these steps, this is what your structure will look like, introduction.

Begin with a brief overview of Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech
State the significance of the speech in American history and its impact on the civil rights movement.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech skillfully employs rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade and inspire his audience toward the goal of racial equality.

Discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. established his credibility as a speaker.
Analyze specific references to his own background, qualifications, and moral authority.
Explore how ethos contributes to his persuasive appeal.
Examine the emotional appeals used in the speech to evoke empathy and solidarity among the audience
Analyze the vivid imagery and storytelling elements that resonate with listeners on an emotional level
Discuss the emotional impact of phrases like "I have a dream" and "Let freedom ring."
Explore how Martin Luther King Jr. employs logic and reason to support his arguments
Analyze statistical data and historical references used to strengthen his claims.
Discuss the structure of the speech, including the use of repetition and parallelism to enhance clarity and coherence.

Call to Action

Highlight the speech's ultimate call to action: the pursuit of racial equality.
Examine how the speech's rhetorical strategies contribute to its effectiveness as a persuasive tool.
Reiterate the thesis statement, emphasizing the rhetorical devices used in Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech
Summarize the key rhetorical elements discussed in the essay

This is what your outline will look like

Firstly, the essay will discuss the ethos of Martin Luther King Jr. by exploring his background and moral authority. Secondly, the essay will highlight the pathos by examining the emotional appeal and analyzing the resonation of readers with the speaker. Lastly, the logos of the essay will be highlighted by exploring the logic and reason of the speaker's argument and discussing the structure of speech and its references.

1. Identify the topic

The foundation of your rhetorical analysis.

The first and fundamental step in crafting an outline for a rhetorical essay is to clearly identify the topic you will be analyzing. This step involves precisely defining what your essay will be about, providing your readers with a clear understanding of what to expect.

If you are writing an essay on a speech by a famous personality, your topic can be “Analyzing Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' Speech”

2. Define the objective

Purpose and audience clarification.

After identifying your topic, the next step is to clarify the purpose of your essay. A rhetorical essay aims to make an argument or analyze how an author conveys their message to a specific audience. By defining your objective, you set the direction for your analysis.

If your objective is to analyze the speech, you can state, “The aim of the essay is to analyze Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech and identify its emotional and logical impact on the audience”

3. Craft the thesis

The central argument.

In this section of your outline, you will craft your thesis statement , which is the core of your essay. The thesis statement asserts your conclusion and takes a stand on the author's rhetorical strategies. It sets the stage for the entire essay.

Continuing the example, your thesis statement for the topic could be, “Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech skillfully employs rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade and inspire his audience toward the goal of racial equality.”

4. Main points

Structuring your analysis.

Now, it's time to chart the course for your essay by outlining the key components. The structure of a rhetorical essay often involves breaking down the non-fiction text into parts and explaining how these parts work together to achieve a specific purpose—whether it's persuasion, entertainment, or information dissemination.

The main points for your essay could be

5. Sub-points

Detailed analysis.

After introducing the main points of your essay, delve into an in-depth elaboration of each point, supported by relevant examples. In this section, you will explicitly outline the main points to be discussed and specify the examples that will reinforce your arguments.

Reflect on how the rainforest's biodiversity impacted your perspective

Transformation and Personal Growth

Reflect on how the journey changed you, both physically and emotionally
Discuss the structure of the speech, including the use of repetition and parallelism to enhance clarity and coherence

All will be explained with examples and backed with statistical data.

6. Evidence and citations

Supporting your claims.

In academic essays, citing information and attributing examples, quotes, and data is essential. Clearly outline the sources from which you will be citing information to strengthen your arguments.

You can cite research papers on emotions to support your points. Also, you can mention the real-time impact of the topic on the audience.

7. Introduction and hook

Capturing your reader's attention.

A hook serves the purpose of capturing the reader's attention and piquing their curiosity. Various types of essays employ different hooking strategies. In the introduction , you will specify the type of hook you intend to use, whether it's a quotation, a compelling fact, or another approach.

You can start the introduction with a rhetorical question from the speech to create a hook like “When will you be satisfied”. Then you can continue to give a brief overview of the speech and state its significance in the context of American history.

8. Conclusion

Summarizing your analysis.

After you have stated your key points, it's time to conclude your essay. For a rhetorical essay, rhetorical questions are considered popular hooks because they make readers think about the topic.

In the conclusion, you will Reiterate the thesis statement, emphasizing the rhetorical devices used in Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech and then the rhetorical elements you made in the essay.

9. Transitions

Transition words play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless flow of your writing, facilitating smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and topics. In rhetorical essays, cause-and-effect transitions are used. These transition words are used to tell a particular situation and its subsequent effect.

In your rhetorical essay, you can use words like “moreover”, “finally”, etc. to transition from one concept, idea, or sentence to another.

10. Refine and review

Now that you've completed your outline, it's time to refine and review it. This step is crucial to maintain the logical coherence and comprehensiveness of your outline, ensuring that it serves as a strong foundation for your rhetorical essay.

Finally, during the review, you will need to ensure that each point flows logically and you have included all the necessary information and didn’t add any extra points.

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What Is a Rhetorical Analysis and How to Write a Great One

Helly Douglas

Do you have to write a rhetorical analysis essay? Fear not! We’re here to explain exactly what rhetorical analysis means, how you should structure your essay, and give you some essential “dos and don’ts.”

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

How do you write a rhetorical analysis, what are the three rhetorical strategies, what are the five rhetorical situations, how to plan a rhetorical analysis essay, creating a rhetorical analysis essay, examples of great rhetorical analysis essays, final thoughts.

A rhetorical analysis essay studies how writers and speakers have used words to influence their audience. Think less about the words the author has used and more about the techniques they employ, their goals, and the effect this has on the audience.

In your analysis essay, you break a piece of text (including cartoons, adverts, and speeches) into sections and explain how each part works to persuade, inform, or entertain. You’ll explore the effectiveness of the techniques used, how the argument has been constructed, and give examples from the text.

A strong rhetorical analysis evaluates a text rather than just describes the techniques used. You don’t include whether you personally agree or disagree with the argument.

Structure a rhetorical analysis in the same way as most other types of academic essays . You’ll have an introduction to present your thesis, a main body where you analyze the text, which then leads to a conclusion.

Think about how the writer (also known as a rhetor) considers the situation that frames their communication:

Topic: the overall purpose of the rhetoric
Audience: this includes primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences
Purpose: there are often more than one to consider
Context and culture: the wider situation within which the rhetoric is placed

Back in the 4th century BC, Aristotle was talking about how language can be used as a means of persuasion. He described three principal forms —Ethos, Logos, and Pathos—often referred to as the Rhetorical Triangle . These persuasive techniques are still used today.

Rhetorical Strategy 1: Ethos

Are you more likely to buy a car from an established company that’s been an important part of your community for 50 years, or someone new who just started their business?

Reputation matters. Ethos explores how the character, disposition, and fundamental values of the author create appeal, along with their expertise and knowledge in the subject area.

Aristotle breaks ethos down into three further categories:

Phronesis: skills and practical wisdom
Arete: virtue
Eunoia: goodwill towards the audience

Ethos-driven speeches and text rely on the reputation of the author. In your analysis, you can look at how the writer establishes ethos through both direct and indirect means.

Rhetorical Strategy 2: Pathos

Pathos-driven rhetoric hooks into our emotions. You’ll often see it used in advertisements, particularly by charities wanting you to donate money towards an appeal.

Common use of pathos includes:

Vivid description so the reader can imagine themselves in the situation
Personal stories to create feelings of empathy
Emotional vocabulary that evokes a response

By using pathos to make the audience feel a particular emotion, the author can persuade them that the argument they’re making is compelling.

Rhetorical Strategy 3: Logos

Logos uses logic or reason. It’s commonly used in academic writing when arguments are created using evidence and reasoning rather than an emotional response. It’s constructed in a step-by-step approach that builds methodically to create a powerful effect upon the reader.

Rhetoric can use any one of these three techniques, but effective arguments often appeal to all three elements.

The rhetorical situation explains the circumstances behind and around a piece of rhetoric. It helps you think about why a text exists, its purpose, and how it’s carried out.

The rhetorical situations are:

1) Purpose: Why is this being written? (It could be trying to inform, persuade, instruct, or entertain.)
2) Audience: Which groups or individuals will read and take action (or have done so in the past)?
3) Genre: What type of writing is this?
4) Stance: What is the tone of the text? What position are they taking?
5) Media/Visuals: What means of communication are used?

Understanding and analyzing the rhetorical situation is essential for building a strong essay. Also think about any rhetoric restraints on the text, such as beliefs, attitudes, and traditions that could affect the author's decisions.

Before leaping into your essay, it’s worth taking time to explore the text at a deeper level and considering the rhetorical situations we looked at before. Throw away your assumptions and use these simple questions to help you unpick how and why the text is having an effect on the audience.

Image showing what to consider when planning a rhetorical essay

1: What is the Rhetorical Situation?

Why is there a need or opportunity for persuasion?
How do words and references help you identify the time and location?
What are the rhetoric restraints?
What historical occasions would lead to this text being created?

2: Who is the Author?

How do they position themselves as an expert worth listening to?
What is their ethos?
Do they have a reputation that gives them authority?
What is their intention?
What values or customs do they have?

3: Who is it Written For?

Who is the intended audience?
How is this appealing to this particular audience?
Who are the possible secondary and tertiary audiences?

4: What is the Central Idea?

Can you summarize the key point of this rhetoric?
What arguments are used?
How has it developed a line of reasoning?

5: How is it Structured?

What structure is used?
How is the content arranged within the structure?

6: What Form is Used?

Does this follow a specific literary genre?
What type of style and tone is used, and why is this?
Does the form used complement the content?
What effect could this form have on the audience?

7: Is the Rhetoric Effective?

Does the content fulfil the author’s intentions?
Does the message effectively fit the audience, location, and time period?

Once you’ve fully explored the text, you’ll have a better understanding of the impact it’s having on the audience and feel more confident about writing your essay outline.

A great essay starts with an interesting topic. Choose carefully so you’re personally invested in the subject and familiar with it rather than just following trending topics. There are lots of great ideas on this blog post by My Perfect Words if you need some inspiration. Take some time to do background research to ensure your topic offers good analysis opportunities.

Image showing considerations for a rhetorical analysis topic

Remember to check the information given to you by your professor so you follow their preferred style guidelines. This outline example gives you a general idea of a format to follow, but there will likely be specific requests about layout and content in your course handbook. It’s always worth asking your institution if you’re unsure.

Make notes for each section of your essay before you write. This makes it easy for you to write a well-structured text that flows naturally to a conclusion. You will develop each note into a paragraph. Look at this example by College Essay for useful ideas about the structure.

1: Introduction

This is a short, informative section that shows you understand the purpose of the text. It tempts the reader to find out more by mentioning what will come in the main body of your essay.

Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses
Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. “implies,” “asserts,” or “claims”
Briefly summarize the text in your own words
Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect

Create a thesis statement to come at the end of your introduction.

After your introduction, move on to your critical analysis. This is the principal part of your essay.

Explain the methods used by the author to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience using Aristotle's rhetorical triangle
Use quotations to prove the statements you make
Explain why the writer used this approach and how successful it is
Consider how it makes the audience feel and react

Make each strategy a new paragraph rather than cramming them together, and always use proper citations. Check back to your course handbook if you’re unsure which citation style is preferred.

3: Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize the points you’ve made in the main body of your essay. While you will draw the points together, this is not the place to introduce new information you’ve not previously mentioned.

Use your last sentence to share a powerful concluding statement that talks about the impact the text has on the audience(s) and wider society. How have its strategies helped to shape history?

Before You Submit

Poor spelling and grammatical errors ruin a great essay. Use ProWritingAid to check through your finished essay before you submit. It will pick up all the minor errors you’ve missed and help you give your essay a final polish. Look at this useful ProWritingAid webinar for further ideas to help you significantly improve your essays. Sign up for a free trial today and start editing your essays!

Screenshot of ProWritingAid's web editor

You’ll find countless examples of rhetorical analysis online, but they range widely in quality. Your institution may have example essays they can share with you to show you exactly what they’re looking for.

The following links should give you a good starting point if you’re looking for ideas:

Pearson Canada has a range of good examples. Look at how embedded quotations are used to prove the points being made. The end questions help you unpick how successful each essay is.

Excelsior College has an excellent sample essay complete with useful comments highlighting the techniques used.

Brighton Online has a selection of interesting essays to look at. In this specific example, consider how wider reading has deepened the exploration of the text.

Image showing tips when reading a sample essay

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay can seem daunting, but spending significant time deeply analyzing the text before you write will make it far more achievable and result in a better-quality essay overall.

It can take some time to write a good essay. Aim to complete it well before the deadline so you don’t feel rushed. Use ProWritingAid’s comprehensive checks to find any errors and make changes to improve readability. Then you’ll be ready to submit your finished essay, knowing it’s as good as you can possibly make it.

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Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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Blog / The Importance of an Outline in Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The Importance of an Outline in Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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November 22, 2023

Have you ever talked to a rambler? Someone who started off telling a story that seemed enjoyable, only to find out that this story has become a long-winded lecture?

This is the same risk you take when you don’t create a rhetorical analysis essay outline outline before writing. There’s a lot of information, background research, and preparation to deliver a rhetorical analysis properly – something that just winging the paper wouldn’t be able to deliver.

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To cover our basis, we’ll explore what a rhetorical analysis is and how to develop a comprehensive outline that will help you in your writing.

What is a Rhetorical Analysis?

Everything around you is rhetoric, or some type of media created to evoke an action, feeling, or thought. Media is made to persuade an audience of a belief. For example, an obvious one would be an advertisement that urges you to buy a product. However, a blog or a news column is meant to sway you of someone else’s opinion as well.

A rhetoric essay is a piece of writing developed to analyze the text or piece of media .

The Two Main Goals of Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis takes a critical look at a piece of art from a TV show to a blog and considers whether it was able to convince you of its stance. The tone of such a piece of writing is persuasive and meant to convince the reader of your point using strong points of view supported by credible sources.

So, not only is rhetorical analysis meant to analyze a piece of media, but also aims to convince the reader of your point of view on it as well.

The Most Important Part of Rhetorical Essay Writing

Writing a rhetorical analysis all boils down to pinpointing your thesis statement. This is a single sentence in the introductory paragraph that precisely states the argument you are about to make about the piece’s choices and strategies.

Without a thesis statement, the piece is widely lost and without a North Star. It can also be a helpful guide as you develop the outline and make appeals to the audience.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Format and Outline

Student in library writing rhetorical analysis essay outline

The rhetorical analysis essay structure, it’s helpful to understand the different points you need to make and how to format the piece for optimal flow. The better your piece flows, and the ideas connect, the more easily the audience will stay engaged and perhaps agree with your argument.

The outline, like any other piece of writing, is the foundation of the home you’re building. Your thesis statement is the concrete slab, the body paragraphs are the frame, and the conclusion is the roof. These pieces are what you’ll build your argument around.

Let’s dive into the essay structure.

Key Rhetorical Analysis Essay Structure

In academic writing, your intended audience is likely your classmates and your professor. With this in mind, the structure of the piece should be methodical and flow easily from one concept to the next.

To begin, your introductory paragraph will introduce the topic, using a hook to grab the attention of the intended audience and showcase the piece of media you’ll be examining. In this paragraph, you’ll also give the reader a short sentence highlighting your three main points of the piece.

The three body paragraphs will consist of focused topics each to support your argument. In your outline, it could be helpful to pick out a few sources you think will help prove your point. You may also choose to select sections of the piece of media you want to analyze specifically such as a line from a character of a show, or the author of a speech. It’s important here to be specific and focused so your ideas don’t bleed into other paragraphs.

Your conclusion will come after you’re done analyzing the text and have clearly stated your stance. Here, you’ll briefly restate your three main points and appeal your stance. This paragraph is meant to be a reflection of the text, your argument, and a final verdict.

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

If you’re trying to find an angle for your piece, consider whether the author used ethos, pathos, or logos to convince you of their stance – keeping in mind they might have used a combination of two or all of them.

Ethos is an ethical appeal to the audience. In your rhetorical analysis paper outline, consider how the author may have pulled at the audience’s morals to prove their argument. Politicians will often use this tactic to fund certain programs or to get reelected, stating that they agree with their party’s moral beliefs.

Pathos will use an emotional ploy to gain followers. In a rhetorical analysis essay format, you may pull out visual points from a video or an interview the author had that ended up in tears as examples and supporting evidence. Identifying these points in the outline can save you time during your writing process.

Finally, logos leans into the logical appeals of the audience – similar to how you’ll be writing this piece. The author will play on the audience’s intelligence and existing beliefs to convince them of their argument. For example, a new column may use statistical sources, and expert research to support their opinion to the point where the reader may even feel foolish for not considering their stance in the first place.

A great piece of rhetoric can pull in all three of these pieces of argument to win an audience over.

Your rhetorical analysis essay outline should be a piece of work that helps you save time during your writing phase, and give your piece a clear structure and flow. Not giving this step real-time and consideration could hurt you in the editing phase as you try and string together your ideas and appeals.

To follow, search for some of our theoretical analysis essay example outlines you can learn from.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Step by Step

DESCRIPTION Person writing rhetorical analysis
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Wondering how to write a rhetorical analysis essay? You’ve come to the right place. Learn what a rhetorical analysis essay is and how to write one - from choosing a topic to finishing your paper. We’ll even guide you through creating a rhetorical analysis essay outline.

How To Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Just the words rhetorical analysis might sound scary. However, when you break down the words, it isn’t as frightening as you think. First, rhetoric is the art of writing. So, doing a rhetorical analysis is analyzing writing. Sounds much simpler now, right? Get a step-by-step guide for how to write a rhetorical analysis.

Preparation: Think SOAPS

When it comes to writing, there are a lot of parts. Before analyzing the different techniques a writer used, you need to understand the parts of writing. This where SOAPS comes in handy. And no, it’s not talking about washing your hands.

S is for speaker - Who is telling the story? Is it the author? Or are the author and speaker different?
O is for occasion - Where does the text take place? What era is it in? What events surrounded the writing? Did something prompt the writing?
A is for audience - Who was the text written for? Is the audience defined?
P is for purpose - Why did the author create the writing? What is it saying?
S is for subject - What is the main purpose of the writing? How is that revealed?

There is also one final component to think about, ‘tone’. Think about the language, voice, and imagery created. Examine the meaning behind it.

Choose a Topic

With SOAPS on the brain, it’s time to choose your topic . Per the name, this will be a piece of writing. But it doesn’t just have to be a piece of literature. You can complete a rhetorical analysis on different types of writing like speeches, poems, famous addresses, etc.

While topics are limitless, make sure to choose something of interest. For example, anyone can choose a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King; however, choose something relevant for you. Did your class president make an amazing speech? Try analyzing it.

Analyze the Work

With a topic in hand, it’s all about analysis. Put SOAPS into play to critically read through the piece. This is more than just looking at what it says. Dissect the piece of writing looking at every part. Explore the mode of persuasion they used like ethos, pathos or logos . Do they use an emotional plea like MLK? Or are they more logical in their argument ? Maybe they are persuading your moral code . Knowing the mode of persuasion the writing is using can help block out your thesis statement.

Formulate a Thesis Statement

What do you want to say in your essay? That is your thesis statement in a nutshell. It’ll set the structure for the essay and work as the beginning of the outline. Remember, your thesis statement should:

Set the tone
Highlight your argument
Develop your reader point of view

In the beginning, the thesis statement isn’t concrete. As you write, it will move and morph to become better and stronger. But, you will need to provide your article bones to grow from.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

The thesis statement is typically the beginning of your essay. From the thesis, create an outline. The outline can be rough like a few keywords to keep on track, or you might use sentences for each different paragraph and the points you want to make. Whatever outline method you choose, just make sure it works best with your writing style.

Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

You’re ready to dive into the deep waters now! However, the preparation you’ve done up to this point ensures you have a floatation device at the ready. When it comes to crafting the essay, there are three main parts. The introduction, body, and conclusion. Let’s break each down.

Introduction

The intro will include your thesis statement and an opening hook , along with an introduction to the piece. It can be helpful to include a little summary and the persuasion methods used.

This is where the real magic will happen. You’ll not only justify your arguments, but you will dig into the SOAPS questions and methods of persuasion used by the author. Use your thesis as a way to guide your writing, making sure every point is hit. When crafting the body remember:

Go in chronological order.
Devote an entire section to the author’s mode of persuasion.
Keep your SOAPS questions in mind as you write.
Use quotes to support your opinions.
Use your voice to write the work rather than the author's.

End with a bang! Your conclusion should round out your essay by restating your thesis, key points, and closing things out. Don’t make it boring. When your essay is done, you want your reader to sit back and go ‘wow’.

Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Wow, that was a long journey! But, you made it through. And now you’re armed with everything you need to write an amazing rhetorical analysis essay. With this under your belt, take a look at definition essay examples and topic ideas . It’s always a good idea to know more about essays.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Thesis

November 20, 2021 by Beth Hall

One of the first steps of writing a rhetorical analysis essay is knowing how to write a rhetorical analysis thesis.

Rhetorical analysis thesis statements can seem intimidating, but they do not have to be.

While the thesis is a small portion of an essay, it carries significant weight and impact, especially on the AP® Lang exam. For example, on AP® Lang rubric, a defensible thesis is one out of six possible points.

So, what is a defensible thesis and how do you write one for a rhetorical analysis essay?

A defensible thesis means that the thesis or position can be justified, proven, or defended.

You can craft a rhetorical analysis thesis statement with the following steps:

Step 1: As you are reading the passage, look for strategies or choices the author utilizes. Ask: What rhetorical choices does the writer/speaker make? (ie. juxtaposition, allusion, etc) This will be the basis of your thesis statement.

Step 2: Mention the author’s purpose in the thesis. Ask: Why did he/she make these choices? Why did he/she write this?

Step 3: Consider the effect on the audience. This step is not mandatory or always appropriate, but it can strengthen the thesis. The effect is looking at the author’s call to action. Ask: How does he/she want the audience to think/act?

how-to-write-a-rhetorical-analysis-thesis

Now that you understand the basis of a thesis statement, let’s talk about where this thesis goes in the essay.

The thesis is best placed in the introductory paragraph. By placing it in the introduction, it gives you a direction for your writing (and often where readers go looking for the thesis). The introduction contains the hook, context, and thesis statement. Often, the context and the thesis are combined together (look at the example below). The context identifies the specific passage you are talking about in your essay.

You can write only a thesis statement for an introductory paragraph if you are short on time, but it is better to have a well-developed introduction. If you want to know more about writing an introduction, you can watch the video here.

Let’s put this information together and look at an example of a thesis statement.

In Leonid Fridman’s passionate article “America Needs its Nerds,” ← context

he defines “geek” and contrasts America with other industrialized nations to develop his argument that America values athletes more than intellectuals. ← thesis

By doing so, Fridman urges readers to reprioritize the current social hierarchy. ← Effect

If you are feeling unsure about thesis statements or need a place to start, sentence frames are a great way to begin a thesis statement. Below are several sentence frames and examples to help you navigate thesis statements.

In SPEAKER/WRITER’S (tone) speech/letter/article (to AUDIENCE), he/she uses ___ and ____ to PURPOSE.

Note: The blanks in this sentence frame should be choices or strategies (nouns). For example, “he uses repetition and juxtaposition to…” Saying “uses” and then a device is rather simple. However, this sentence frame can lead to a defensible thesis. Once you understand this style of thesis writing, you can try more advanced styles.

In SPEAKER/WRITER’S (tone) speech/letter/article (to AUDIENCE), he/she ____ and ____ to PURPOSE.

Example: In his patriotic speech to Congress, President Roosevelt repeats “attacked” and “deliberate” as well as appeals to patriotism in order to convince Congress to declare war on Japan.

Example: In his patriotic speech to Congress, President Roosevelt repeatedly emphasizes the deliberate nature of the attack on Pearl Harbor and appeals to patriotism in order to convince Congress to declare war on Japan.

When you are ready to begin writing thesis statements on your own, remember to keep the following items in mind:

A thesis identifies the strategies / choices AND purpose. Without both of these, it is not a defensible thesis.
A thesis does not restate the prompt. Use the prompt as a guide, not as a thesis.
A thesis answers the prompt. This may seem obvious, but it can be easy to get caught up in writing and lose track of your goal

Looking for more tips about how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, check out this post here.

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Free Rhetorical Analysis Generator

🌟 Intro to Rhetorical Analysis Generator

🤔 What Is Rhetorical Analysis?

✒️ Components of Rhetorical Analysis
💎 SOAPSTone Template
📝 Essay Outline

🔗 References

🌟 intro to our free rhetorical analysis generator.

Rhetoric refers to the use of language that helps motivate, persuade, or get the point across to a particular audience. Rhetorical analysis involves studying and evaluating strategies authors and speakers use to achieve this goal. Here, you’ll learn how to use our generator, the fundamentals of rhetorical analysis, and the components of making a great essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Generator & Reasons to Try

It’s not always easy to conduct a good rhetorical analysis. Many students struggle with it and may even fail to submit their work on time. Our rhetorical analysis generator is here to help! It has many benefits that help you finish your work faster:

A rhetorical analysis evaluates a piece of work and the effectiveness with which the author communicated their ideas. It can be anything from a novel to a movie, as long as the work wants to persuade an audience. In other words, instead of discussing the events of The Count of Monte Cristo, you explore what Alexander Dumas wanted to tell his readers, which techniques were used to convey the message, and whether it was successful.

11 Common Rhetorical Analysis Devices

Look at some of the most popular rhetorical devices you can encounter in written and spoken works. They will help you better identify and include them in your upcoming papers.

✒️ Rhetorical Analysis Components & Their Meaning

You can come across several rhetorical analysis methods in your professional and academic work. The rhetorical triangle is the most popular type but has several lesser-known subtypes.

Its components are:

Ethos . This notion appeals to the author or speaker’s credibility. It evaluates a person’s authority on a subject and tells the audience if they should trust them.
Pathos . Pathos deals with emotions. It’s the most effective rhetorical device as it’s used to connect the speaker and the audience. For example, an emotional appeal over the use of facts is a tell-tale sign of propaganda.
Logos . This element backs up a claim with logical and reasonable substance. Through it, the author provides factual evidence that supports their claims.
Kairos . When a writer or a speaker addresses a particular time and place, they use kairos to provide specific context. To illustrate, an address concerning the First Amendment is most effective during a political debate.
Stasis . The final segment of the rhetorical analysis lets people view arguments from different perspectives. This adds an impact and makes the audience more likely to side with the writer or speaker.

💎 Rhetorical Analysis: SOAPSTone Template

Like any analysis, evaluating a person’s rhetorical capabilities requires structure. Without it, you may fail to address some aspects of the work, making your paper incomplete. You can make this process easier with the SOAPSTone template and its components:

📝 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Writing any type of essay requires structure and cohesion. While you may have encountered this structure before, it’s worth to remember the basics. A rhetorical analysis paper outline requires the following elements:

Introduction . This paragraph introduces the text and its author. Some experts recommend including a summary of the work and elements of the SOAPStone analysis you uncovered. Explain why you’re conducting the research and give a clear thesis statement.
Body . The section where you present arguments about work and what makes it persuasive. Here you discuss the methods, strategies, and rhetorical and literary devices the author used to convey their message.
Conclusion . The conclusive paragraph ties your analysis together by driving home the main arguments provided in its body. It can also explain how the work impacted society or its target audience.

3 Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples

Here we have picked up some samples with rhetorical analysis of different types of works that can inspire you to create own impressive essay.

Rhetorical Analysis of Paypal’s Online Payments Commercial Essay . PayPal's online payments commercial employs a potent blend of rhetorical techniques to convey its message effectively. The ad emotionally connects with the audience through vibrant visuals, stirring music, and relatable scenarios. Using real-life situations highlights the convenience and security of PayPal's services, appealing to the ethos and building trust. Additionally, persuasive language and a call to action stimulate a sense of urgency, prompting viewers to adopt PayPal as their preferred online payment platform. By artfully combining pathos, ethos, and logos, the commercial convinces viewers that PayPal is a trustworthy and convenient decision for their online payment requirements.
“The Myth of Multitasking” by Rosen: Rhetorical Analysis Essay . The author adeptly employs rhetorical strategies to debunk the notion of multitasking. Christine Rosen dismantles the prevalent belief in multitasking efficiency through persuasive arguments and compelling evidence, revealing its detrimental effects on productivity and cognitive abilities. Her skillful use of logic and reasoning challenges readers to question their habits and consider a more focused approach to tasks. By strategically dismantling this cultural trend, Rosen urges her audience to reassess their attitudes toward multitasking, prompting a profound reevaluation of its impact on daily life and productivity.
A Rhetorical Analysis: “Chevy Commercial 2014” Essay . Chevy Commercial from 2014 is a captivating piece of rhetoric that skillfully employs various persuasive techniques to resonate with its audience. The ad establishes an immediate connection with viewers through emotional storytelling. The commercial artfully weaves heartwarming scenes of people's lives, accompanied by an inspiring soundtrack, evoking a sense of nostalgia and relatability. Ethos is reinforced by showcasing real people in everyday situations, enhancing the credibility of Chevy's brand positioning as an integral part of consumers' lives. Furthermore, logos strategically highlights the car's innovative features and performance. By aligning Chevy with moments of happiness and adventure, the ad compels viewers to consider Chevy as the vehicle that can accompany them on their life journeys.

We hope our tool will facilitate your rhetorical analysis of books, commercials, or speeches, so you'll create a unique essay! Besides, you may try our hook generator to engage the audience to read your paper from the beginning.

📌 Rhetorical Analysis Generator – FAQ

Updated: Oct 25th, 2023

Rhetorical Analysis – Jessica Allee, University of Arkansas
How To Write a Rhetorical Analysis in 8 Simple Steps – Jennifer Herrity, Indeed
Rhetorical Analysis – Blinn College District
What Is a Rhetorical Device? Definition, List, Examples – Jeffrey Somers, ThoughtCo
Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Formatting – Brandon Everett, California State University, East Bay
What is Rhetorical Analysis? – Melanie Gagich & Emilie Zickel, PressBooks
SOAPStone Graphic Organizer for Rhetorical Analysis – Sacramento City Unified School District
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This page contains a free tool for conducting rhetorical analysis. It is user-friendly, accurate, and fast. You can customize the analysis according to your text type and context. Also, we have prepared a guide where you can find out about literary devices, components of rhetorical analysis, and the structure of your future essay.

How It Works
Essay Examples

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Surely you’ve already realized the difficulty involved in compacting all that is important in your essay into one key sentence – the thesis statement. Reaching a stage in writing your essay when you have decided on the main point that you would like to make can be quite challenging. That is especially when you consider the bearing that a single sentence could have on your entire essay. That's how important a thesis statement is. It's a focal point, a foundation on which you consequently build your paper, relating all the arguments you make back to this statement. Thesis statements vary depending on a particular type of essay you're writing. Here, we provide a detailed guide on how one formulates a rhetorical analysis thesis statement.

What is a rhetorical analysis essay?

Rhetorical analysis is a detailed study of how an author of a non-fiction work succeeded (or failed) in creating a specific effect – to convince, inform or entertain his/her audience. Analyzed work can be a text, a speech or a visual argument such as an advertisement or promotional video. You refer to the author of such work as a rhetorician. Important tools used by a rhetorician include factual evidence and, more importantly, appeals of an emotional (pathetic), ethical or logical type. Generally speaking, appeals represent attempts to earn the audience's approval by making use of fundamental human affinities or shared experience. Pathetic ones (here, we use the word pathetic without a negative connotation) primarily elicit an emotional response, sympathy or compassion, disappointment, sorrow or anger to persuade the audience of the rhetorician's argument. Logical ones use common sense to prove a point, while ethical ones rely upon the author's authority and trustworthiness to persuade the public of whatever attitude he/she has expressed towards a specific theme or topic. When performing a rhetorical analysis, you should look at which tool or technique the author has used, how successfully and what he/she has achieved by doing so.

Definitive essay outline page has useful information about authority and trustworthiness.

What is a rhetorical analysis thesis statement?

All thesis statements represent a final element of the introduction section of an essay. They consist of three parts: topic, argument and reason for it. A thesis statement written within a rhetorical analysis paper could look like this:

Author (name) effectively convinces readers (viewers) of the product quality by pointing to the (health or other) benefits of using it.

Alternatively, you could also argue:

Author (name) fails to persuade the audience of the product quality by using trivial argumentation and appealing to the wrong emotions.

But how do you decide what stand to take towards work you're analyzing? First of all, you should explore the goal a particular text or video is intended to reach. Next, check if the rhetorician has successfully achieved it. Then try to find out which techniques he/she used along the way and what has proven to be decisive in gaining the audience's approval or disapproval.

What to remember when writing a rhetorical thesis statement

Thesis statement is to serve as an orientation for readers, letting them know what will be discussed in a paper and from what angle or perspective.
It keeps you, as a writer, focused. It functions as an anchor to prevent you from drifting away from your topic. Without it, you would risk straying from your central theme which could cause you to end up not proving your point or seeming unclear of the message you're trying to get across.
It defines the overall content of your paper covering all points you would need for convincing your reader that your argument is indeed valid.
It is composed as an arguable claim. If something is an indisputable fact, then there is no use arguing its veracity. Thesis statement must have a potential to instigate discussion and provoke a reaction.

While there is no simple recipe on how to compose a compelling thesis statement for your rhetorical analysis essay, there are a few essential rules to follow:

Become sufficiently acquainted with analyzed material (text, audio or video) which acts as a topic of your rhetorical analysis. Read it thoroughly or watch it a couple of times to find out what impression it makes on you, what the author's primary goal was, what techniques he/she employed to reach this goal and whether it was successful. Analyze precisely what kinds of appeals the author used and to what avail. Don’t rush it. Take your time and if necessary go over the material several times to make sure that you didn’t miss anything.
After you've scrutinized the material and got to the bottom of every appeal used and to check for its efficiency, continue to next step which includes more specific analysis of things that were contrasted or made to appear similar in the material. Try to find out what was the aim and if it was successful.
Formulate a working hypothesis which will serve as an interim thesis statement while you further analyze material by examining factual evidence presented. It will be refined in the process until you reach a final thesis statement.

With what rules should a rhetorical analysis thesis statement comply?

Most importantly, it is supposed to be well-defined and precise. There is no room for vagueness and ambiguity when writing a thesis statement. It should provide a clear indication of your principle idea, which you will elaborate throughout your paper. Its formulation should make it clear to everyone what your essay will cover and what position you will be taking on this subject. If necessary, read your thesis statement to a few friends or family members and ask them what they think will be the theme of your essay. If what you get as an answer differs from your initial intention, then your thesis statement was not clear enough and you need to alter it.
Next, itemize rhetorical methods used by the author. Rhetorical analysis should identify all appeals used by the rhetorician to accomplish his/her goal. Determine which strategies were used and subject them to critical analysis. Decide if the author was successful in his use of common sense appeals, emotional cues or moral grounds for his argument. What impression do you think the audience got after reading or viewing the material?
Restrict the scope of your analysis to a particular segment of the material. You cannot possibly cover every conceivable aspect in one essay. So keep it specific. Decide upon a topic you find the most significant or appealing. Then thoroughly examine it to find enough support for your thesis.
Put some effort into finding a unique angle to your rhetorical analysis. Object essay examples may help with this one. It's an original essay and should be as distinctive as possible. Your essay provides your subjective view on how effectively the author has persuaded the audience of his argument. Of course, this perspective should be backed up with supporting evidence or facts but it remains personal and different from anyone else's nevertheless.
Although personal, your view should not be illogical or biased. Your task is not to pass judgment but to determine the author’s successfulness in accomplishing his work’s goal. So, do not claim that the material is good or bad, but establish if it was efficient in conveying a particular message or successful in creating a public opinion on a subject.
Discuss the author’s style and general tone he employed in his work. Consider the target audience for analyzed material and whether a particular style of presenting it is suited for them. If not, explain why. Talk about different techniques the author used to make an impression on his intended audience.
Your thesis statement should represent the point you would like to make in your essay. It should state your position clearly and provide a basis for further analysis.

Step-by-step refinement of rhetorical analysis thesis statement

Step #1: consider all possible angles of approaching your analyzed material. Read or watch it several times and write down everything that comes to your mind. Include impressions made on you by the author, as well as emotional responses these impressions elicited. Then think of the author's style and rhetorical appeals he utilized to accomplish his aim.

Step #2: restrict the scope of your analysis by deciding on which aspects of the material you would like to focus. These will be subjected to meticulous examination in your paper. Upon analysis, you will decide on the author's effectiveness in proving his point. What contributed to his success or failure?

Step #3: formulate your thesis. Now is the time to compose a compelling thesis which provides information on your general position regarding the material you analyzed and the main argumentation that you will discuss in more detail in the remaining parts of your essay. Take a stand on how you think the author's style, tone, and the various appeals used contributed to influencing the audience to think or feel in a particular way. If necessary, write multiple thesis statements and later decide on the most fitting one.

Step #4: refine your thesis. If you think your working version of the thesis statement is a bit rough around the edges, polish it to get a final version which pinpoints your position and expresses your point of view most clearly. A thesis statement is like a living organism; it changes and evolves over the time needed to write tips for rhetorical analysis . Adjusting it along the way is therefore crucial.

With a bit of luck, the information and guidance provided in this text will make the task of writing a rhetorical analysis thesis statement somewhat easier. It is a critically important part of the essay and should be given sufficient consideration so that you can structure the entire paper around it.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Outline, Steps, & Examples

If you are assigned to write a rhetorical analysis essay, you have one significant advantage. You can choose a text from an almost infinite number of resources. The most important thing is that you analyze the statement addressed to an audience. The task of a rhetorical analysis essay is to identify the speaker’s main objectives. However, it is also crucial to work through the rhetorical strategies the speaker uses.

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In this article by Custom-Writing.org experts, you will get to know the SOAPSTone and rhetorical appeals. This is included in our seven-step guide on how to write a rhetorical analysis essay. You’ll find out the essential tips on formatting and formulating the thesis statement. There are also a rhetorical essay outline and examples at the end for your reference!

❓ What Is Rhetorical Analysis?
👣 Writing Steps
👀 Essay Examples

🔗 References

❓ what is a rhetorical analysis essay.

In a rhetorical analysis essay, you have to divide a text into parts and explain whether they work together or not . It is quite different from a usual literary analysis . The task is to find out how successful the speaker is at reaching their objective.

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Main Steps

There are several steps you should follow to hit the highest score for your essay. First, you should work with SOAPSTone and rhetorical appeals. Then, you should proceed with basic tasks, such as writing a thesis statement and outline. When you have these done, it’s time to put it all together into the three main parts of the essay.

To do rhetorical analysis, identify the SOAPSTone of the text & its rhetorical appeals, make a thesis & an outline, then write your essay.

Step #1: Identify the SOAPSTone of the Text

SOAPSTone is a very handy tool to help you understand the text you are dealing with. The following questions allow you to gather all the information you will need for future analysis.

SOAPSTone: S - Speaker, O - Occation, A - Audience, P - Purpose, S - Subject.

Step #2: Identify Rhetorical Appeals Used in the Text

Rhetorical appeals are also known as “modes of persuasion” and include ethos, pathos, and logos. They can be understood as tools for making others believe a particular point of view. Some of the most potent examples can be found in advertisements.

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Ethos is related to the speaker’s credibility. Mentioning some impressive qualifications or years of practice reassures the reader of the speaker’s reliability and trustworthiness. It helps to persuade the audience.

For example, a doctor might write an article about the surgery success rate after 30 years of practicing in the field. Demonstrating one’s expertise like this is an excellent example of ethos.

Pathos is all about emotions. Evoking deep feelings in the listeners is a powerful tool, which helps the speaker convince them. The range of emotions varies from love, admiration, and sympathy to anger and hate. Whenever the response from the audience aligns with what the speaker is expecting, it is a win. Usually, it is achieved by using provocative language.

For instance, a mayoral candidate shouts out into the crowd that hundreds of people could lose their jobs if they don’t do something. The speaker aims to make the audience feel resentful of the current situation and sympathetic to a new plan. This way, they are more likely to vote for this candidate since they feel passionate about the promises.

Emotions are not always enough to convince someone to follow you, are they? Therefore, the last crucial mode is logos. Logos is responsible for logic. Appealing to reason is mostly used in an academic environment , but it’s not uncommon in other fields. The speaker could use reliable data , facts, and evidence to convince the audience.

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Using numbers is always a good idea. For example, during the presentation, the speaker can include some graphs and percentages: “Last year, we finished 23% of projects ahead of schedule, saving over two million dollars for our customers.”

Step #3: Formulate Your Thesis Statement

Remember that your thesis statement is considered to be the front page of your paper. When successfully composed, it points out the main idea of your essay. Therefore, it has to be as clear and specific as possible.

You want to include everything you found out about the chosen text in this single sentence. If you didn’t skip the first two steps, it shouldn’t be a problem! A decent thesis statement would look like this:

“In her article, the writer mentions her expertise and up-to-date statistics, and appeals to the readers’ pity to convince them of the necessity of regular yearly check-ups for disease prevention.”

Don’t worry if you still can’t come up with anything decent. try using a rhetorical analysis thesis generator that will give you some ideas of what direction you should take in your writing.

Step #4: Create Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Even though keeping your essay organized is not your most important task, it is undoubtedly helpful! If you don’t want to forget anything and save yourself quite a lot of time, follow our advice and write an outline . This can be especially helpful if you mostly use visual memory.

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Introduction, main body, and conclusion create the basic layout of any essay. The main body of the paper includes at least three paragraphs. The rhetorical analysis essay outline also fits this rule.

Carefully go through all the notes you’ve made and mark the main points you want to include in your essay. Think about the evidence you have to support them. Along with the thesis statement, write it all down in a format of a list. When you are done with it, you may use it as a cheat sheet during the next steps of the writing process.

Now, you’re all set up and ready to begin writing your essay!

Step #5: Write Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay Introduction

There are several things you need to consider when writing an introduction:

If it’s not your school assignment, let the reader know that it’s a rhetorical analysis.
Come up with a hook to interest the reader.
Don’t forget to mention the text or speech you’re analyzing. You can also drop a few facts about it.
Think of the SOAPSTone details that matter and include them here as well. You don’t have to mention all of the parts, just the ones that make sense to you.
At the end of the introduction, write your thesis statement . It brings more clarity to this part of the essay.

Step #6: Write Your Body Paragraphs

As usual, this is where you put all your findings and support them with some facts. Don’t forget that there should be at least three body paragraphs . Since it fits the number of rhetorical appeals, you can go ahead and write about ethos, pathos, and logos. Another way of organizing the paragraphs is to present the text’s details chronologically, meaning from beginning to end. In this case, whatever text or speech you chose, it was probably well-prepared, so it helps your analysis look coherent.

It doesn’t matter which option you prefer, but make sure you provide enough support for your arguments . The most effective way to make it work is to use quotes. Also, stick to using the third-person so that you don’t break the rules of academic writing.

You can see how your main points can be organized most effectively in the rhetorical analysis essay sample at the end of the article.

Step #7: Write Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay Conclusion

The purpose of the conclusion is to sum up the most important findings of your analysis . You need to include your thesis statement here as well, but not word-for-word. Aim to paraphrase it and make it seem more sophisticated. This can be achieved by using new terminology. Maybe there is something the readers now understand from your essay that they couldn’t have before.

Then, in the form of a summary, briefly mention the main ideas that support your thesis. You don’t have to be a professional summary typer , just get your idea across in a concise manner. You might add a few words about the importance of your analysis as well. If you think that this issue is worth further research, write that down too.

👀 Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Examples

Below you’ll find an essay aiming to analyze On Women’s Right to Vote by Susan B. Anthony – a speech regarded as one of the best in American history. In this rhetorical analysis essay example, you can see how to put everything together by following the seven-step guide above. Here, the main body is divided into three paragraphs presenting one rhetorical appeal each.

Here are some other essay examples for you to check out.

Obama Speech: Rhetorical Analysis and Evaluation
“Get Out” Movie’s Rhetorical Analysis
Susan B. Anthony’s Speech: Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address
Steve Jobs’ Commencement: Rhetorical Analysis
Blogs on Euthanasia: Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Writing Analysis of Jenna Berko’s Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

A rhetorical analysis of one of Hallmark’s commercials .
Steve Jobs’ speech at Stanford University in 2005: rhetorical analysis.
The use of rhetorical devices in Gary Shteyngart’s Only Disconnect .
Rhetorical strategies used in horror film Us by Jordan Peele.
Analyze Hamlet’s monologues in W. Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark .
Discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetorical appeals in his Letter from Birmingham Jail .
Describe the rhetorical devices used in Greta Thunberg’s speech .
The common rhetorical aspects used in articles of Carolyn Gregoire and Sophie Reeves .
Examine the rhetoric in Brooks’ Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being .
Analyse the persuasive devices in Google Analytics App .
Study the application of rhetorical strategies in Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr .
Compare the lyrics rhetoric in The Times They Are A-Changing and The Wind of Change .
Rhetorical analysis for applying critical thinking .
Describe the rhetorical devices used in Confessions of a Female Chauvinist Sow by Anne Roiphe .
Examine the persuasive techniques in the Gillette commercial We Believe: The Best Men Can Be .
Compare the rhetorical schemes of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and Emily Dickinson’s Success is Counted Sweetest .
Rhetorical analysis of Media Control by Noam Chomsky .
Analyse the persuasive devices used in political debates The Issue of Women and Race (2019).
Rhetorical appeal in Andrew Cadelago’s film Snack Attack .
Discuss the rhetorical strategies in Hidden Intellectualism by Gerald Graff .
Analyse the persuasive devices used in Angelina Jolie’s speech on female empowerment .
Describe the rhetorical appeals applied by Steinbeck in Of Mice and Men to stir up the emotions of the readers.
Compare the rhetoric of Margaret Fuller and Fredrick Douglass . .
Body by Milk and Moms Demand Action advertising campaigns: rhetorical analysis.
Describe the use of three appeals in Coors Light Beer ad .
Discuss the persuasive tactics in the 1950s advertising with Marilyn Monroe .
Analyze the rhetorical strategies in Aveeno advertisement .
Examine the efficiency of persuasive devices in the Stop Bullying public campaign .
The instruments used to persuade the audience in Anti-Drug Abuse public campaign .
Explore the rhetorical appeals in Julius Caesar by W. Shakespeare .
Analyze the persuasive strategies of FIFA franchise .
Rhetoric of The American Scholar by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Describe the rhetorical devices that made Pericles’ Funeral Oration one of the world’s most influential speeches.
Persuasive techniques in American Crisis by Thomas Paine .
Analyze the rhetorical strategies used by Linda Hogan in Dwellings .
Explore the modes of persuasion in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas .
The Myth of the Charioteer : rhetorical analysis.
Discuss the rhetorical appeals of Pop Can: Popular Culture in Canada .
The three appeals in Claire Giordano’s Virtual Promise .
Rhetorical devices in the film Henry V (1944) directed by Laurence Olivier.
Describe the rhetoric technique used by Michelle Obama in her TED speech .
Analyze the persuasive tactics in James Q. Wilson’s Just Take Away Their Guns .
Compare the rhetorical strategies in Moore’s Idiot Nation and Gatto’s Against School .
What in the world is a rhetorical analysis? – NC State University
Rhetorical Analysis – Stanford University
Rhetorical Strategies // Purdue Writing Lab
Rhetorical Analysis – Writers Workshop (Illinois)
Rhetorical Analysis – SAGE Research Methods
Rhetorical Analysis | Department of English | University of Washington
Doing a Rhetorical Analysis of a Text (CSU)
Aristotle’s Rhetorical Situation // Purdue Writing Lab
Ethos, logos, pathos: Strategies of persuasion in social/environmental reports
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BASIC OUTLINE of your rhetorical analysis essay
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Learn How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Effectively
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Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis
A rhetorical analysis is a type of essay that looks at a text in terms of rhetoric. This means it is less concerned with what the author is saying than with how they say it: their goals, techniques, and appeals to the audience. A rhetorical analysis is structured similarly to other essays: an introduction presenting the thesis, a body analyzing ...
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline With Templates & Tips
B. Thesis Statement - An assertion summarizing the rhetorical strategies used and their effectiveness in achieving the author's purpose. ... Here are the steps to craft an outline for a rhetorical analysis essay: Step 1 - Choose the Text. Select the piece of rhetoric that you will be analyzing. It could be a speech, a written essay, an ...
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis: 6 Steps and an Outline for Your
The following outline is an example of how you could structure your rhetorical analysis. To make planning your essay easier, you can simply copy and paste this outline and fill it in with your thesis and supporting examples. Introduction. Describe the 4 elements of rhetoric (audience, purpose, medium, and context), and identify the speaker
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statements
A strong thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis is NOT… A simple statement of your topic A broad statement A statement of facts or statistics A summary of the author's essay you are analyzing A statement of what you're going to do in the essay Examples of weak rhetorical analysis thesis statements:
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Thesis Statements
A strong thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis is NOT… A broad, simple statement of your topic A statement of facts or statistics A summary of the author's essay you are analyzing A statement of what you're going to do in the essay Examples of weak rhetorical analysis thesis statements:
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay-Examples & Template
Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos. The purpose of Pathos-driven rhetoric is to appeal to the reader's emotions. A common example of pathos as a rhetorical means is adverts by charities that try to make you donate money to a "good cause". To evoke the intended emotions in the reader, an author may use passionate language, tell personal stories ...
PDF How to Write a RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY Step 1: Full Comprehension of
Like all other essays, your rhetorical analysis essay will have an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. WRITE - write your essay. Asher ... Create an OUTLINE for a possible essay on this chapter that includes the following: Thesis (should answer the prompt question directly) ...
How to write a rhetorical analysis [4 steps]
To write a rhetorical analysis, you need to follow the steps below: Step 1: Plan and prepare. With a rhetorical analysis, you don't choose concepts in advance and apply them to a specific text or piece of content. Rather, you'll have to analyze the text to identify the separate components and plan and prepare your analysis accordingly.
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Formatting
Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Formatting Created by: Brandon Everett Summer 2019 *This is a general outline for your rhetorical analysis and can be adapted to the various prompts and guidelines provided by the instructor or professor. Introduction and Thesis Provide necessary background and context: clearly introduce the document, essay or
An Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Guide For You
The Body of your rhetorical outline is the most changeable part of the rhetorical analysis essay template. You can make a convincing argument in as little as 500 words. Or you may need more space. Don't confuse being wordy with being 'smart' or 'effective'- try to use as few words as you need to be concise and clear.
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement
1 Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement. 2 Tips to Compose a Thesis Statement for Rhetorical Analysis. 2.1 Doing Proper Analysis. 2.2 Find Concrete Examples. 2.3 Determine the Author's Purpose. 2.4 The Effect on the Audience. 2.5 Take a Position. 3 Do's and Don'ts when Writing a Thesis Statement. 3.1 Do's.
How to write an effective outline for a rhetorical essay
This section of your outline is dedicated to crafting the central argument, known as the thesis statement, for your essay. The thesis statement of a rhetorical essay asserts your conclusion and takes a stand on the author's rhetorical strategies.: Continuing the example, your thesis statement for the topic could be, "Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech skillfully employs ...
How to Write a Great Rhetorical Analysis Essay: With Examples
Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses. Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. "implies," "asserts," or "claims". Briefly summarize the text in your own words. Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Format and Outline. The rhetorical analysis essay structure, it's helpful to understand the different points you need to make and how to format the piece for optimal flow. ... Your thesis statement is the concrete slab, the body paragraphs are the frame, and the conclusion is the roof. These pieces are what you'll ...
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Step by Step
Learn how to write a rhetorical analysis essay and get an example of a rhetorical analysis essay outline. ... It'll set the structure for the essay and work as the beginning of the outline. Remember, your thesis statement should: Set the tone; Highlight your argument;
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Thesis
A defensible thesis means that the thesis or position can be justified, proven, or defended. You can craft a rhetorical analysis thesis statement with the following steps: Step 1: As you are reading the passage, look for strategies or choices the author utilizes. Ask: What rhetorical choices does the writer/speaker make? (ie. juxtaposition ...
Free Rhetorical Analysis Generator + Guide & Examples
A rhetorical analysis paper outline requires the following elements: Introduction. This paragraph introduces the text and its author. Some experts recommend including a summary of the work and elements of the SOAPStone analysis you uncovered. Explain why you're conducting the research and give a clear thesis statement. Body. The section where ...
Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement
Definitive essay outline page has useful information about authority and trustworthiness. What is a rhetorical analysis thesis statement? All thesis statements represent a final element of the introduction section of an essay. They consist of three parts: topic, argument and reason for it.
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline I. Introduction: Rhetorical Précis: A. Name of author, (appositive phrase about the author to establish credibility & authority) genre, and title of ... Topic sentence that states rhetorical device linking to thesis (begin with transition for 2nd and 3rd body paragraphs) 2. Introduce 1st example and quote it ...
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline: Examples & Strategies
Example: The author claims that cats are better pets than dogs. The target audience that the writer is aiming at. The context in which the text was produced, e.g. a specific event. Aside from that, a rhetorical essay introduction should include a hook and a thesis statement.
Thesis Generator
To see this in action, use the suggested outline below. Remember: This is meant as a guide only, so we encourage you to revise it in a way that works best for you and your assignment. Introductory Paragraph. Start your introduction with an interesting "hook" to reel your reader in. An introduction can begin with. a rhetorical question; a quotation
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Outline, Steps, & Examples
Step #2: Identify Rhetorical Appeals Used in the Text. Rhetorical appeals are also known as "modes of persuasion" and include ethos, pathos, and logos. They can be understood as tools for making others believe a particular point of view. Some of the most potent examples can be found in advertisements. Just in 1 hour!
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Outline
(Include rhetorical device or strategy by chronology. Identify—what is the meaning or purpose of the essay? What rhetorical devices did the author use to achieve this? What is the tone?) 1. Evidence from the text (find—where in the essay can you find evidence to support your convictions? Please write your quotes or specific examples here):

Crafting an Effective Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline - Free Samples!

What Is Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

Key Elements to Analyze

Why Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline?

Components of a Rhetorical Analysis Outline

Introduction

Section for Each Rhetorical Strategy

Steps to Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Step 1 - Choose the Text

Step 2 - Identify Rhetorical Devices and Rhetorical Appeals

Step 3 - Analyze Appeals and Strategies in Each Section

Step 4 - Consider the Effect on the Audience

Step 5 - Filter Out Extra Information

Step 6 - Conclude and Summarize

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis: 6 Steps and an Outline for Your Next Essay

What Is a Rhetorical Analysis?

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

1. Identify the 4 elements of rhetoric.

2. Describe the rhetorical appeals.

3. Analyze.

4. Evaluate.

5. State your thesis.

6. Organize your ideas and evidence.

How Do You Write a Rhetorical Analysis Introduction?

Rhetorical Analysis Outline

How Many Words Should a Rhetorical Analysis Be?

Analyzing Rhetoric

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay–Examples & Template

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

Key Rhetorical Concepts

Rhetorical Appeals

Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos

Rhetorical appeal #3: Logos

Text and Context

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

What are the Five Rhetorical Situations?

Rhetorical situations can be classified into the following five categories:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Analyzing the Text

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction

Doing the Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhetorical Analysis Essays

What is the correct rhetorical analysis essay format?

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

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How to Write a Thesis Statement For a Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Tips to Compose a Thesis Statement for Rhetorical Analysis

Doing Proper Analysis

Find Concrete Examples

Determine the Author’s Purpose

The Effect on the Audience

Take a Position

Do’s and Don’ts when Writing a Thesis Statement

Don’ts

Examples of Strong and Weak Rhetorical Analysis Thesis

Elements of a STRONG Thesis

Elements of a WEAK Thesis

Formula for Thesis Statement

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